Preview: Kildare County vs Monaghan United

• Keith Wallace
• Fri, Mar 28 2008




Kildare County will look to finally get their campaign up and running in their second home game of the 2008 eircom League of Ireland First Division season, although it won’t be an easy task, as they entertain high-flying Monaghan United at Station Road on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Thoroughbreds go into the game on the back of accumulating just one point from their opening two fixtures, as they followed up a disappointing home defeat at the hands of Shelbourne with an away draw at Wexford Youths last weekend. Both times, John Ryan’s men failed to hold on to 1-0 leads, with this visit of Monaghan a crucial one as pressure grows on the home boss.

Opposition manager Mick Cooke has no such problems with his job security as he has guided the Mons to two wins from their three league games to date. An opening day victory at home to Limerick 37 was followed by a heavy loss to near neighbours Dundalk a week later, however, the Ulster club got back to winning ways when shocking Shelbourne at Kingspan Century Park last Friday.

This trip to Newbridge offers Monaghan another chance to impress, as they look to close the gap on leaders Dundalk to just one point. “Hopefully we can keep our good start to the league going and take the points in Station Road,” said Cooke.

Team News: Monaghan will be without the injured Brian Murphy (ankle) and the suspended Stephen McCrossan, who sits this match out through an automatic ban having been sent-off in the win over Shelbourne last weekend. Kildare, meanwhile, have no such worries.